digital-telepathy

Opened to coworking: In 2006, the web design firm began inviting startups to work in its office.

Location: The company operates in 2,500 square feet at 2970 5th Ave., Bankers Hill in San Diego

Tenant mix: Around 15 employees of digital-telepathy, with four workstations reserved for visitors. From the website: “We prefer to share our space with San Diego web design and other creative professionals working in the web 2.0 world that are open to sharing their perspectives, humor, ideas and energy.”

EcoHub

Tenant mix: Limited to environmentally focused businesses such as a bicycle designer and a company that makes compostable cutlery and tableware. There’s also room for businesses that “add value to members” by providing a needed service, such as public relations or graphic design.

Cost: Packages start at $50 to grab a desk for a few hours a week and get mail service there. Part time members pay $250; lockable offices starts at $400 a month. For businesses that expand, there are office suites on site.

Regus

Established: 1989

Locations: Headquarters in Luxembourg with more than 1,000 locations worldwide. In San Diego County, offices are in downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad.

Tenant mix: In Southern California, around 60 percent of clients are small to medium-sized businesses of 10 people or less, and 40 percent are Fortune 1000 companies or medium-sized businesses that use it as a satellite office, often for sales staff. Many clients are attorneys, financial planners, certified public accountants and other professional service providers, as well as smaller high-tech firms.

Cost: Most companies using the program in Southern California pay less than $300 for a virtual office. You can also reserve a private office space with options ranging from $400 to $3,000 per month.

Tenant mix: Limited to young technology companies. Eight current tenants include Independa, which is developing systems that will help family caregivers monitor a parent or dependent using hardware, software and sensors; and MicroPower Technologies, a startup working on a low-power wireless video camera technology.

Cost: Free to companies that are selected through an application process. Described as a no-strings-attached program, it also provides mentoring, domain experts and furnished office space.